Rapid-firing projectile launcher

ABSTRACT

A projectile launcher has a magazine of launching chambers for holding a plurality of projectiles at the launcher&#39;s front end. The projectiles are launchable by the delivery of a blast of compressed air through each chamber&#39;s respective air inlet. The air inlets are uniformly spaced in a substantially cylindrical array about the magazine. A piston with a handle is adjacent to the rear end of the launcher body. The piston has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the cylindrical array, and the piston is movable in back-stroke and fore-stroke motions along that axis for inhaling air into the launcher during the back-stroke and exhaling air from the launcher though one of said air inlets in blasts of compressed air during the fore-stroke. A rotatable diverter directs the blasts to one of the air inlets individually and sequentially upon successive backstroke and fore-stroke cycles of the piston.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toy for shooting or launching projectiles in rapid succession. More specifically, it is a toy gun adapted to shoot a continuous stream of soft projectiles, powered by the compressed air created by a repeated pumping action. In the preferred embodiment, two identical launchers are arranged side-by-side to maximize that number of projectiles the may be launched without reloading.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Projectile launchers that shoot soft foam projectiles by delivering blasts of compressed air thereto have become very popular in recent years. Launchers that are capable of sequentially launching a plurality of projectiles without reloading have been found to have even greater levels of appeal. However, the prior art projectile launchers of this type have included complex, unreliable and expensive indexing arrangements for delivering blasts of compressed air to sequentially arranged projectiles. Further, prior art firing mechanisms have been less than “user friendly”, resulting in both a slowing of actual launching and fatigue by the user.

The present invention provides a new and extremely simple projectile launcher, having only a user-operated linear piston and one additional moving component, which is adapted for reliably and tirelessly launching a plurality of sequential projectiles in a continuous stream. Accordingly, the projectile launching apparatus according to the present invention is substantially simpler, cheaper to manufacture, easier to use, less tiring, more reliable, and thereby more effective than the heretofore-available air powered projectile launching devices.

More specifically, the projectile launching apparatus of the present invention comprises a launcher body having a magazine thereon which includes a plurality of forwardly directed launching chambers. Each of the launching chambers includes an air inlet, and each is adapted for receiving a projectile thereon so that the projectile is launchable from the launching chamber thereof by delivering a blast of compressed air thereto. The air inlets of the magazine are disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation in a substantially circular array, and the launcher further includes a piston and cylinder assembly, which is linearly movable within the launcher body. The piston and cylinder assembly includes an air outlet, which directs air into an indexing manifold. Depending on the radial position of the indexing manifold, air passing there-through is directed by the manifold towards a particular launching chamber. A blast of air is created with each forward motion of the piston by the user.

The blast of air has two purposes. The primary purpose is to provide air power for launching the projectile in one of the chambers. The secondary purpose is to provide air power for rotationally indexing the manifold so that the manifold is arranged after each stroke to provide air power to the next adjacent launching chamber with the next stroke.

Prior art launchers, such, employ various mechanisms for compressing air for powering the projectile launching. Mechanisms such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,729 require the user to pull a lever in a non-linear and rearward motion to launch a projectile. Aside from the complications of this elaborate mechanism, it is found to cause inaccuracy in aiming and shooting the projectiles. The piston and cylinder assembly of the present invention has an axis of translation that is co-axial with the axis of the launching magazine. The force applied by the user to actuate the piston is directly along the line of intended fire. Aside from providing a more simple and reliable mechanism for both the manufacturer and user, this arrangement has been found to enhance aiming and to improve the accuracy of projectiles being fired. Further, because the piston's motion is a short linear stroke, it is possible for a user to quickly and easily operate the piston and cylinder assembly in order to rapidly launch a plurality of sequential projectiles from the magazine without adversely effecting aim and accuracy.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an effective new launcher mechanism for easily and accurately launching a plurality of projectiles from a magazine of a projectile launcher without reloading the launcher.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a projectile launcher having a stationary projectile magazine which is adapted for receiving a plurality of projectiles thereon and for powering those projectiles via a blast of air from a piston and cylinder mechanism arranged for linear motion along the intended line of fire. More preferably, the piston and cylinder motion is coaxial with the average line of fire.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent in view of the following description and drawings of the preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an action view showing a projectile launcher in accordance with the best mode of the present invention in the act of firing projectiles;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a projectile launcher according to the invention and having dual side-by-side launcher mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the launcher of FIG. 2 with its top housing removed to show the internal components;

FIG. 4 is a left-side exploded perspective view of a launcher mechanism of the launcher of either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a right-side exploded perspective view of the launcher mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the diverter, part of the cylinder cap, and the chamber cap of the launcher mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7A-7C are series views of the interface of the diverter, part of the cylinder cap, and the chamber cap of the launcher mechanism of FIG. 4 showing the rotation of the diverter during the firing cycle;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the launcher mechanism of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the projectile launcher according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. The launcher 100 of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. It comprises a body 102, a piston and cylinder assembly 104, and a launching mechanism 106.

Launching mechanism 106 has eight equally-spaced launching chambers 108 within magazine 109 for receiving eight projectiles 110, and a manifold assembly 112 for directing air from the piston and cylinder assembly 104 to the launching chambers 108, one at a time and in sequential order upon each successive extension/compression cycle of the piston 118.

The piston 118 includes a handle 120 at its distal end. The piston is adapted to be moved longitudinally within the cylinder 122 from an extended state (as depicted by the extended position of right-side handle 120R of FIGS. 2 & 3) to a compressed state (as depicted by compressed position of the left-side handle 120L of FIGS. 2 & 3).

With the handle first in its compressed state, and all launching chambers 108 loaded with projectiles 110, the user grasps the handle 120 and pulls it rearward into its extending state. The piston 118 is movably sealed against the cylinder's inner wall 124 by o-ring 126, so this backstroke causes air to be drawn into the cylinder 122 through intake hole 128. During the extending back stoke, rotatable diverter 130 is pulled back away from hole 128, allowing an airflow path from the outside into the cylinder. Rear ratchet teeth 134 of the diverter engage mating ratchet teeth 136 of cylinder cap 140 during the backstroke to cause a clockwise rotation of the diverter of 22.5 angular degrees. This is best seen by reference to FIG. 6 and the series of FIGS. 7A to 7D

A forward thrust of the handle 120 forces diverter 130 forward to block hole 128 and force the compressing air from the cylinder 122 though diverter hole 142 of diverter 130. Front ratchet teeth 144 of the diverter engage ratchet teeth 146 of chamber cap 150 during the forward thrust to cause a further clockwise rotation of the diverter of another 22.5 angular degrees. Air forced from the cylinder 122 through the diverter hole 142 is directed by the adjacent air channel 154 though that channel's mating projectile tube 156 and to that tube's launch chamber 108 to force the projectile 110 from that chamber.

Looking at FIG. 5, it can be seen that chamber cap 150 comprises an equally spaced array of holes 158 which are aligned with the potential positions of diverter hole 142. Further, magazine cap 160 comprises a similar array of inlet holes 162 aligned with the chamber cap holes 158. Magazine cap holes 162 are connected to radially directed channels 154 which match to similar channels 164 of projectile tube manifold 170. IN this way, blasts of compressed air from cylinder 122 are most effectively directed though diverter hole 142 and to the appropriate projectile tube for firing the appropriate projectile 110.

As a result of the 45 angular degree rotation of the diverter 130 from before to after the backstroke fore-stroke cycle, it can be understood that rotational diverter 130 causes air on each successive fore-stroke to be forced to a successive launch chamber. Additionally, by successively extending and compressing handle 120, it can be understood that a continuous stream of projectiles can be fired from successive chambers. The dual side-by-side launcher of FIGS. 2&3 can rapidly fire 16 projectiles in a nearly continuous stream.

It should also be of note that, aside from the longitudinally translatable piston, diverter 130 is the sole moving component in this mechanism, representing a significant manufacturing, economic, and reliability advancement over the prior.

It should be of further note that the exerted force by the user during the compressing or “firing” stroke is directly along the intended line of fire of the projectile, which is found to improve firing accuracy.

While the above describes a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying invention and that the same is not limited to these particular embodiments except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A projectile launcher comprising a launcher body having a front end with a magazine adjacent thereto, said magazine comprises a plurality of forwardly directed launching chambers, each of said launching chambers comprises an air inlet and each of said chambers is adapted for receiving a projectile therein so that the projectile is launchable there-from by the delivery of a blast of compressed air through said chamber's respective air inlet, said air inlets are substantially uniformly spaced in a substantially cylindrical array about said magazine to define a central axis; said launcher further comprises a piston and said launcher body further has a rear end with a handle adjacent thereto for engaging said piston, said piston having a longitudinal axis coaxial with said central axis of said cylindrical array, and said piston being reciprocally movable in back-stroke and fore-stroke motions along its longitudinal axis by grasping said handle for inhaling air into said launcher body during said back-stroke motion and exhaling air from said launcher body though one of said air inlets in blasts of compressed air during said fore-stroke motion, said blasts of compressed air being discharged through a rotatable diverter adapted to direct said blasts to one of said air inlets of said launching chambers individually and sequentially upon successive back-stroke and fore-stroke cycles of said piston.
 2. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein substantially all fore-stroke force is directed along said central axis.
 3. The projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein said rotatable diverter comprises a set of forward ratcheting teeth and a set of rearward ratcheting teeth and said launcher body comprises a set of rear ratchet teeth adapted to mate with said rearward ratchet teeth and a set of front ratchet teeth adapted to mate with said forward ratchet teeth, and wherein said rotatable diverter is adapted to move longitudinally along said central axis in the same direction as and during movement of said piston so that said rear and rearward ratchet teeth are engaged during said back-stroke and said front and forward ratchet teeth are engaged during said fore-stroke, and wherein said ratchet teeth are adapted so that said engagements cause rotation of said rotatable disk from a first rotational position before said backstroke wherein said diverter is positioned to direct air to a first chamber's air inlet to a second rotational position during said fore-stroke wherein said diverter is positioned to direct air to a second chamber's air inlet, said second chamber being adjacent to said first chamber.
 4. The projectile launcher of claim 3 wherein substantially all fore-stroke force is directed along said central axis.
 5. The projectile launcher of claim 3 further comprising an intake hole for allowing air to be inhaled into said launcher body and wherein said rotatable diverter is adapted to unblock said intake hole during said back-stroke so air can be more efficiently inhaled during and said rotatable diverter is adapted to block said intake hole during said fore-stroke so that substantially all of said inhaled air is exhaled during said fore-stroke through said second chamber's air inlet.
 6. The projectile launcher of claim 5 wherein substantially all fore-stroke force is directed along said central axis.
 7. The projectile launcher of claim 6 wherein said magazine is disposed in stationary and nonrotatable relation to said body.
 8. The projectile launcher of claim 7 wherein the plurality of launching chambers is a first number and the number of teeth in each set of said front, forward, rear and rearward ratchet teeth is equal to said first number.
 9. The projectile launcher of claim 8 wherein said first number is an even number.
 10. The projectile launcher of claim 9 wherein said first number is eight. 